2015 d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier McLaren Vale Australia 750 ml

D’Arenberg is one of Australia’s most iconic brands: The century-old winery has taken home Australia’s most prestigious red wine award, been named one of the country’s five best by Wine & Spirits, and their marquee bottling—the universally beloved Dead Arm Shiraz—stands with the best from Penfolds, Henschke, and Glaetzer.

Based on 94% Shiraz, this bottle is both a classic and an original: Inspired by the time-tested blend of the Rhône Valley’s Côte-Rôtie Syrahs, The Laughing Magpie was the very first wine in McLaren Vale to take the very best Shiraz has to offer—the copious forest-berry fruit, the accents of black olive and cracked pepper—then lift it to new heights with a touch of aromatic Viognier. This combination of red and white grapes results in one of the most striking values we’ve seen Down Under.

D’Arenberg’s century-long obsession with quality can be summed up in one fact about their winemaking: Every red wine, whether it’s an icon or an everyday drinker, is trod by foot during fermentation and pressed in an ancient basket press. It’s a labor-intensive practice that most wineries don’t even use for their top wines, let alone ones that command less than triple-digit prices. Then again, maybe that’s part of why d’Arenberg’s wines, from every point in their range, deliver way above their price point. 

The man behind the Magpie, winemaker Chester Osborn, is quirky and brilliant—one of the largest personalities in the wine industry. The fourth-generation scion of one of Australia's "First Families of Wine,” Chester is a genius at evoking thrilling, visceral expressions of the mineral-rich soil and extremely low-yielding ancient vine intensity.

Shiraz grapes in McLaren Vale experience the full ripening power of the bright Southern Hemisphere sun, while continual cool breezes mitigate vineyard temperatures, resulting in massive opulence cut with vibrant acidity. After harvest (and the aforementioned ancient treatment in the winery), the Laughing Magpie spends ten months in French oak, imparting the perfect amount of spice to the already lively Shiraz.

Now, nearly six years after harvest, the wine is drinking beautifully. This is a luxe experience from one of Australia’s most revered wineries.